Right before he heads off for his Young, Hot & Gay tour of the wintery midwest, gay comic Jordan Pease will perform Friday night in Los Angeles. Whether he's waxing poetic about the Golden State's lenient stance on drugs, or adopting children essentially as a fashion statement, Pease is guaranteed to crack you up. TheJordanPease.com for dates. —Michelle Garcia

Butcher and grittier than Cirque du Soliel, Elizabeth Strebs's choreography is like an S&M Rube Goldberg obstacle course. Streb's concepts about gender and class inform her work, and you'd better have some street smarts if you want to dance in her company, as you will need to watch your back for swinging metal girders and other implements of doom. Streb and her Extreme Action Company give the show FORCES big ideas, big hardware, and big muscles in a show for the whole family. November 8 through December 22 in Brookyln. Find tickets and more information here. —Christopher Harrity

8. EVENT: Seattle Men's Chorus Heads to Casablanca, through December 22As long as you love Christmas music or the classic film Casablanca, you should check out the Seattle Men's Chorus's 34th season opener, "Play It Again, Santa." The chorus does not disappoint, with a full-on show of singing, acting — and farce, of course. And if all that laughing and smiling isn't enough for you, you can also fulfill your do-gooder desire by donating to the Lifelong AIDS Alliance for a holiday food dive, to help stock the organization's Chicken Soup Pantry (only at Benaroya Hall performances). Click SeattleMensChorus.org for dates. —Michelle Garcia

7. THEATER: Leslie Jordan: Show Pony

The Emmy-winning gay actor (Will & Grace, Sordid Lives, The Help) delivers tales of his life, ranging from hilarious to poignant, in his latest one-man show. The limited engagement at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theatre opened last night and runs just through Sunday, so don’t delay — get your tickets here.—Trudy Ring

6. DVD: The Sound of Music Live!

It was only a week ago that NBC aired the three-hour live production of the Broadway classic The Sound of Music, but it was such a ratings smash that the DVD rolls out Tuesday (in time for the holidays, of course). Starring American Idol winner and country darling Carrie Underwood — in a performance that received mixed reviews, especially for her acting — The Sound of Music Live! was produced by the gay power team of Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, and also stars Stephen Moyer, who you'll recognize as brooding vampire Bill Compton on True Blood. Find the DVD on Amazon. — Neal Broverman

5. THEATER: Feliz Navi Diva

Drag star and Tupperware sales champ Kay Sedia presents an evening of holiday-themed music and comedy, three nights only, next Tuesday through Thursday at the Cavern Club Theater at Casita del Campo restaurant in Los Angeles. There will be two shows per night, with a guest star at each performance; Natalie Lander (The Middle) is scheduled to appear at Wednesday’s 9:30 p.m. show. Check here for tickets and more info. — Trudy Ring

4. FILM: Saving Mr. Banks

In Saving Mr. Banks, Disney delves into the making of one of its most iconic films, Mary Poppins, which, apparently, was almost never made. Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) had courted the creator of the original book, bisexual novelist P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson), for years, in order to obtain the rights to the story that had captivated his daughters during their childhood. The film depicts the power struggle between smooth-talking Disney and the reluctant Travers, whose own childhood, involving an alcoholic father (Colin Farrell) and an intervening aunt, serve as the real-life inspiration for the tale. With strong leading performances from both Hanks and Thompson, the film also features many of the original songs from Mary Poppins, which may have viewers singing in their seats to one of the holiday season’s most magical films. Saving Mr. Banks opens in theaters this weekend. Watch the trailer below. — Daniel Reynolds

3. EVENT: This Ain't Your Grandma's Craft Fair, December 14-15Forget the mall, head on down to Bust magazine's annual Craftacular & Food Fair in Chelsea's Metropolitan Pavilion for your holiday needs. Don't know what to get your younger, hipper sister, or your owl-loving best friend? Stock up on indie gifts while giving a boost to 200 local crafty business owners and innovative chefs, as DJs spin in the background. —Michelle Garcia

2. MUSIC: "Cannonball" by Lea Michele

The Glee star and Broadway phenom is now taking a stab at a pop career: her first single, "Cannonball," was released this week (and is part of her first album Louder, out in February). Michele is strong and determined on the track, which sounds like a testament to moving on after the death of her boyfriend and Glee co-star Cory Monteith. — Neal Broverman

1. FILM: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Make your holidays gay by viewing the The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which features performances from gay and bisexual actors Luke Evans, Lee Pace, and Stephen Fry. That’s not to mention the out Sir Ian McKellan, whose reprised performance as wizard Gandalf the Grey is a welcome guide back through the fantastical world of Middle Earth. Critics have praised the second installment of The Hobbit trilogy, in which Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) resumes his quest alongside 13 dwarves to reclaim a lost kingdom, as a thrilling continuation of the series that is marked by strong storytelling and a fierce dragon voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, directed by Peter Jackson, opens in theaters this weekend. Watch the trailer below.— Daniel Reynolds